Scottish Museums

Museums are a world of wonders in themselves, where you can while away the hours and get lost in your own imagination. Scotland is home to hundreds of brilliant museums, from tiny heritage museums set in traditional crofting homes to museums with enough room to house Concorde (yes, you can actually see Concorde in a museum in Scotland!).

Whether you're interested in nature, geology, transport, science, technology, arts, fashion, history or people, you'll find museums across the country filled with fascinating exhibits to ignite your curiosity. What discoveries will you make in Scotland's museums?

Fancy a night at the museum?

The National Museum of Scotland holds themed late night events for grown-ups throughout the year, packed with great entertainment, food and drinks. Bring your sense of fun!

14 must-visit museums

So, you're keen to visit a Scottish museum - but which one? Get an overview of some of Scotland's best-loved museums, including top museums in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Learn the story of people, places and past times through thousands of objects and discover something new!

... and be one of the first to visit the brand new V&A Museum of Design. Set in a purpose-built riverside building, this stunning museum is an example of world-class architecture and will hold collections showcasing the very best of both international and Scottish design.

Find fascinating museums in Scotland

10 quirky Scottish museums

Surgeons' Hall Museums

Surgeons' Hall Museums is not for the fainthearted, but it's truly fascinating indeed. View thousands of anatomical specimens preserved in jars, from gangrene feet to cancerous moles. You can also see a book bound in the flesh of notorious 19th century Edinburgh murderer William Burke! Grim!

Devil's Porridge Museum

Want to know just what went on in the greatest munitions factory in the world? At Devil's Porridge Museum in Eastriggs in Dumfries & Galloway, discover the secret wartime operations on Scotland's south west coast and get a unique insight into the lives of the young women making cordite explosives for the war effort.

Glasgow Police Museum

Did you know that Glasgow was the first city to introduce a police force? Well it was, and you can find out all about its beginnings and the development of policing at this museum in Glasgow's Merchant City.

British Museum of Golf

Head to the homeland of golf in St Andrews and uncover the story of one of the world's best loved sports, from its inception in the Middle Ages to treasured items from the 20th century golfing greats.

Kilmartin Museum

Why is this archaeological museum in rural Argyll so special? Well as Time Team's Tony Robinson puts it, 'how many museums can you go to where you can examine a Bronze Age pot and look out of the window and see the burial mound where it came from?'. Not many!

Orkney Wireless Museum

The introduction of radio was a pretty major development for the islands of Scotland. At this museum, see a range of incredible electronics and novelty radios from across the 20th century and hear what your name sounds like in Morse code.

Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura

Set in an 18th century windmill, this museum houses one of Scotland's three historic camera obscuras. It's an optical device which preceded photography, and gives you a unique perspective on the town itself. Delve into troves of local history, with countless fascinating exhibits.

Scottish Maritime Museum

This museum in Dumbarton is home to the Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank, the world's oldest experimental tank. Built in the Victorian era, it's the length of a football pitch which was used for testing in shipbuilding in the 19th century. By our book, that's as unique as attractions come.

Ship Space

Another nautical-themed attraction is Ship Space in Inverness. The star attraction is an 88 ft long scale module of the Titanic - it's even got a replica of the ship's Parisian Café! You can also try your hand at baiting a creel, or see if you can put on a survival suit in time.

Scottish Vintage Bus Museum

Usually Sunday means a reduced service when it comes to buses, but conversely it's the only day you can actually visit the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum! Located near Dunfermline in Fife, it houses over 150 buses from many different periods and in varying condition.